Overview of Math Accommodations

Transcription

1 Overview of Math Accommodations High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges at the Foothill-De Anza Community College District McClellan Road Cupertino, CA (408) URL to our CC license: Creative Commons website: Thursday, October 27, 2011

2 Table of Contents OVERVIEW OF MATH ACCOMMODATIONS... I TABLE OF CONTENTS... II COUNTING... 1 MANIPULATIVES... 8 MATH WINDOW MATH BRAILLE AUDIO GRAPHING CALCULATOR PIAF (PICTURES IN A FLASH) MATHTYPE MATHTALK LATEX SCIENTIFIC NOTEBOOK Overview of Math Accommodations ii 10/27/2011

3 Counting Chisenbop Finger Counting Chisenbop is a method of doing basic arithmetic using your fingers. It is attributed to the Korean tradition, but it is probably extrememly old, as the soroban and abacus use very similar methods. Probably these other devices were derived from finger counting. For more information on Chisenbop, try one of the following sites: Counting The tutorial below is from the following site: The key to finger math is understanding how to count. The right hand stands for the values zero through nine. Each digit counts as one, and the thumb counts as five. Here s an illustration: As you can see, digits 0 through four are pretty self explanatory. The thumb counts as five, so here s how to represent five through nine: Overview of Math Accommodations 1 4/14/2010

4 The left hand represents multiples of ten, with the right thumb representing 50. Here s how the left hand works: ************************** Abacus The abacus is an ancient calculator and still very useful for persons whose ability to write mathematics may be limited. The PBS site below is a good source for more information and teaching ideas about the abacus, as is Abacus: Mystery of the Bead ( The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired site ( abacus.htm) has quite a bit of abacus information. The TSBVI site is also a very good general resource for teaching math to blind students. Displaying Numbers on the Japanese Abacus The following is taken from the PBS Teacher Source Web site: When you show a number on the abacus, you move beads to the crossbar. When beads are moved away from the crossbar, they are canceled. For example, when a lower bead is canceled, it is lowered from the crossbar and an upper bead is canceled when it is raised from the crossbar. Remember the upper bead represents five units and each lower bead equals one unit. Let s show 63 on the abacus. Overview of Math Accommodations 2 4/14/2010

5 * Go to the ten s place. Lower an upper bead to the cross bar. This represents 50. Move one lower bead up to the crossbar. This shows 60. * Move to the one s column and move 3 lower beads up to the cross bar. This shows 63 ( = 63). Let s show 672 on the abacus. * Move to the hundred s column. How many beads should you lower and/or raise to represent 600? * Move to the ten s column. How many beads should you lower and/or raise to represent 70? * Move to the one s column. How beads should you lower and/or raise to represent 2? Your abacus should look like this picture. The Japanese Soroban Abacus Taken from Simple addition & subtraction When using a soroban to solve problems of addition and subtraction, the process can often be quite straightforward and easy to understand. In each of the six examples below beads are either added or subtracted as needed. Simple Addition Overview of Math Accommodations 3 4/14/2010

6 Simple Subtraction But what happens when an operator is presented with a situation where rods don t contain enough beads to complete addition or subtraction problems in a simple, straightforward manner? This is where the real fun begins. In the next section we ll see how the use of complementary numbers and a process of mechanization allows an operator to add or subtract sets of numbers with lightning speed. COMPLEMENTARY NUMBERS A Process of Thoughtlessness In competent hands, a soroban is a very powerful and efficient calculating tool. Much of its speed is attributed to the concept of mechanization. The idea is to minimize mental work as much as possible and to perform the task of adding and subtracting beads mechanically, without thought or hesitation. In a sense to develop a process of thoughtlessness. With this in mind, one technique employed by the operator is the use of complementary numbers with respect to 5 and 10. In the case of 5, the operator uses two groups of complementary numbers: 4 & 1 and 3 & 2. In the case of 10, the operator uses five groups of complementary numbers: 9 & 1, 8 & 2, 7 & 3, 6 & 4, 5 & 5. With time and practice using complementary numbers becomes effortless and mechanical. Once these techniques are learned, a good operator has little difficulty in keeping up with (even surpassing) someone doing the same addition and subtraction work on an electronic calculator. The following examples illustrate how complementary numbers are used to help solve problems of addition and subtraction. In all cases try not to think beforehand what the answer to a problem will be. Learn these simple techniques and and you ll be amazed at how quickly and easily correct answers materialize, even when problems contain large strings of numbers. Overview of Math Accommodations 4 4/14/2010

7 Addition In addition, always subtract the complement. Add: = 12 Set 4 on rod B. Add 8. Because rod B doesn t have 8 available, use the complementary number. The complementary number for 8 with respect to 10 is 2. Therefore, subtract 2 from 4 on rod B and carry 1 to tens rod A. This leaves the answer 12. (Fig.8) = 12 becomes = 12 Fig.8 Similar exercises: Add: = 13 Set 6 on rod B. Add 7. Once again subtract the complement because rod B doesn t have the required beads. The complementary number for 7 with respect to 10 is 3. Therefore, subtract 3 from 6 on rod B and carry 1 to tens rod A. This leaves the answer 13. (Fig.9) = 13 becomes = 13 Similar exercises: Fig.9 Overview of Math Accommodations 5 4/14/2010

8 Subtraction In subtraction, always add the complement. Subtract: 11-7 = 4 Set 11 on rods AB. Subtract 7. Since rod B only carries a value of 1 use the complement. The complementary number for 7 with respect to 10 is 3. (Please note: In subtraction the order of working the rods is different from that of addition.) Begin by subtracting 1 from the tens rod on A, then add the complementary 3 to rod B to equal 4. (Fig.10) 11-7 = 4 becomes = 4 Fig.10 Similar exercises: Subtract: 13-6 = 7 Set 13 on rods AB. Subtract 6. Use the complement again. In this case, the complementary number for 6 with respect to 10 is 4. Begin by subtracting 1 from the tens rod on A, then add the complementary 4 to rod B to equal 7. (Fig.11) 13-6 = 7 becomes = 7 Similar exercises: Fig.11 Overview of Math Accommodations 6 4/14/2010

9 The Order of the Rod This is where students new to soroban can make mistakes. In each of the above examples the operation involves using two rods, a complementary number and a carry over from one rod to another. Notice the order of operation. For Addition 1. First subtract the complement from the rod on the right. 2. Then add a bead to the rod on the left. For Subtraction 1. First subtract a bead from the rod on the left. 2. Then add the complement to the rod on the right. This is the most efficient order of operation. When attention is finished on one rod the operator moves on to the next. There is no back and forth between rods. This saves time. Overview of Math Accommodations 7 4/14/2010

10 Manipulatives Publisher: The American Printing House for the Blind, Inc Frankfort Avenue P.O. Box 6085 Louisville, Kentucky Phone: Fax: For customer service: Products: Braille rulers and yardsticks Braille and large-print protractor Brannan Cubarithm slate and cubes rubber frame only Brannan Cubarithm slate and cubes plastic cubes only Cranmer abacus Cranmer abacus: optional coupler Embossed graph sheets Fractional parts of wholes set Geometry Tactile Graphics Kit Graphic aid for mathematics (rubber/cork board) Graphic art tape (for making lines on cork boards) Metric-English measurement ruler with caliper slide Number lines Orion TI-34 Talking Calculator Description: APH carries many products to assist persons who are blind or visually impaired. Check also for such products as TalkingTyper (to teach keyboarding) and APHont (a free font designed for low vision users). ***************** Publisher: Maxi-Aids, Inc. Overview of Math Accommodations 8 4/14/2010

11 42 Executive Blvd. Farmingdale, NY Phone: Fax: For customer service: on-line form Retail Costs: Magnetic Alphaboard Item#: Price: $15.95 Raised Line Drawing Kit (Sewell) Item#: Price: $28.95 Replacement Sheets (about 70 sheets) Item#: Price: $5.99 Description: Maxi Aids carries a wide range of products of interest to persons with various disabilities. You can order on-line. Overview of Math Accommodations 9 4/14/2010

12 Math Window Publisher: Wolf Products Purvis Road Butler, PA Phone: For customer service: Retail Cost: Braille basic kit: $ Braille algebra add-on: $65.00 Braille geometry kit: $400 Large print basic math: $140 Large print algebra add-on: $90 Description: Math Window consists of a magnetic board and tiles that allow blind students to build and solve math problems. The tiles combine printed numerals and symbols for the sighted instructor, along with Nemeth Code for the blind student. Math problems can be configured in the same linear or vertical forms that sighted students are taught. The Math Window Algebra Add-On Kit contains all the letters, symbols, and operations needed for students to understand and progress through high school algebra. Sighted tutors can use Math Window with very little instruction, and Braille-readers can construct their own math equations. How to construct a problem Math Window is designed for ease in locating and moving the pieces so the student can quickly construct and solve a problem. Rather than picking up each piece and placing it in the desired location, we recommend sliding the pieces from place to place. Linear Arrangement Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division: Overview of Math Accommodations 10 4/14/2010

13 Slide the first numeral of the problem into an empty section of the Window. Next, slide the operation sign into position, followed by the second numeral in the problem. Place the equal sign after the last numeral, and the problem is ready to solve. Spatial Arrangement Addition and Subtraction: Slide the first numeral into an empty section of the Window. Next, slide the second numeral under the first. The addition sign or subtraction sign is located in front of the last numeral, in the next space to the left of the outermost column. A separation line is then slid in place under the problem. (The separation lines vary in length to accommodate the variety in problems being solved.) Multiplication: Similar to addition and subtraction, except the multiplication sign is located directly in front of the multiplier. Division: The division symbol is placed between the divisor and the dividend. A separation line is slid above the dividend and begins in the same column the division symbol is located. Overview of Math Accommodations 11 4/14/2010

14 When solving a division problem, we recommend teaching the student to bring numerals down within the problem by sliding numerals from the outside perimeter of the window and placing them directly below their respective numerals in the dividend. Do not slide numerals from the dividend. This can lead to confusion when working larger problems. How to construct fractions Simple Fractions Mixed Numbers Complex fractions Overview of Math Accommodations 12 4/14/2010

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17 Math Braille Nemeth The primary system of math Braille in the United States is Nemeth. Nemeth Braille was developed by Dr. Abraham Nemeth in the 1940s, originally for his personal use, and was adopted officially into the Braille code in 1952 by the Braille Authority of North America (BANA). Nemeth Braille uses the standard Braille symbols to convey mathematics and can be used from the most basic to the highest levels of math. Because it uses the same 63 cells that make up literary Braille, it can be used with refreshable Braille displays. The downside with Nemeth is that it is extremely complex, expensive to produce, and difficult to read. Braille users who did not learn Nemeth as part of their K 12 education rarely become proficient in its use. DotsPlus In the 1990s, Dr. John Gardner developed the DotsPlus system for rendering math into a combination of Braille and graphical symbols. Dr. Gardner, who lost his vision later in life, found Nemeth cumbersome and difficult to learn. As a working physicist who had spent much of his life doing math visually, he also wanted to maintain the spatial information inherent in standard print mathematics. DotsPlus looks much like print math and is not hard for a Braille reader or a sighted teacher/tutor to learn to read. The combination of symbols and Braille makes printing DotsPlus somewhat challenging. To solve this problem, Dr. Gardner developed the Tiger embosser, which remains the only way to emboss DotsPlus math. Number Systems Compared System literary Nemeth DotsPlus Overview of Math Accommodations 15 4/14/2010

18 Nemeth Code Cheat Sheet Meaning Braille Sign Braille Example Print Meaning baseline indicator 2 2x y brackets closing [0] brackets opening [0] Capital sign Algebra cent sign 50 comma 1,897 curly brackets closing {0} curly brackets opening {0} decimal point 98.6 divided by 8 2 dollar sign $10 dot (multiplication) 5 * 6 English-letter indicator (lower case) A Overview of Math Accommodations 16 4/14/2010

19 Meaning Braille Sign Braille Example Print Meaning English-letter indicator (upper case) A equals x = 4 fraction indicator closing fraction indicator opening fraction line fraction: bi-level diagonal-slash ¼ fraction: closing mixed-number fraction indicator fraction: complex fraction modifier fraction: diagonal-slash fraction bar 1/4 1 fraction: horizontal fraction bar 1 4 fraction: opening mixed-number fraction indicator 1 1/2 greater than 7 > 4 Greek-letter indicator (lower case) δ Greek-letter indicator (upper case) Δ grouping symbols less than 2 < 6 long division minus 6 2 Overview of Math Accommodations 17 4/14/2010

20 Meaning Braille Sign Braille Example Print Meaning mixed number indicator closing 2 3/4 mixed number indicator opening 3 2/5 not equal to numeric indicator 3456 parenthesis closing (0) parenthesis opening (0) percent 50% plus punctuation indicator 5:45 separation line subscript indicator x e superscript indicator 2 c a v 2 times sign (cross) 1 x 3 Overview of Math Accommodations 18 4/14/2010

21 Greek Letters in Braille, Math Context Letter Name Upper Case Lower Case Braille Upper Case Braille Lower Case alpha A α beta B β gamma Γ γ delta Δ δ epsilon Ε ε zeta Ζ ζ eta Η η theta Θ θ iota Ι ι kappa Κ κ lambda Λ λ mu Μ μ nu Ν ν xi Ξ ξ omicron Ο ο pi Π π rho Ρ ρ sigma Σ σ tau Τ τ upsilon Υ υ phi Φ φ chi Χ χ psi Ψ ψ omega Ω ω Greek-letter indicator Capital sign Overview of Math Accommodations 19 4/14/2010

22 DotsPlus Symbols Print Dots Plus ' apostrophe : colon, comma. period question mark? quotes semicolon " ; single quote ` parentheses ( ) [] square brackets Print Dots Plus curly braces {} angle brackets and sign & asterisk * at backslash \ bullet caret ^ divide dollar sign $ equals = not equal ¹ approximately equal» greater than > less than < minus Overview of Math Accommodations 20 4/14/2010

23 Print Dots Plus multiply number sign # percent % plus + Print null integral long division Dots Plus ò / slash ~ tilde underline sin cosine tangent pi union intersection sin cos tan π square root x squared 2 x angle Ð ray AB AB right angle ^ Overview of Math Accommodations 21 4/14/2010

24 Audio Graphing Calculator Publisher: ViewPlus Technology SW Airport Ave Corvallis, OR Phone: FAX: For customer service: Retail Cost: Price for CD: $ Price for download: $ System Requirements: Windows XP/2000/NT Sound card & 256 MB of RAM 20 MB hard disk space 200 MHz processor or faster CD-ROM drive or network/internet connection for download Description AGC is a scientific calculator that provides voiced feedback for computations, as well as audio representations of graphs. The versatile AGC can import data from Excel or a host of other applications. Quickly and easily create tactile copies of your AGC graphs by printing directly to any ViewPlus Embosser (Tiger). The AGC is accessible to anyone who can use a computer, regardless of ability, allowing the user to concentrate on math, not on learning the tools to access it. A demo version is available on their site: Overview of Math Accommodations 22 4/14/2010

25 Example: Computing and Plotting the expression y = x You should select the Expression 1 edit box. You may reach it by moving to the Data Set 1 Tab Page and going to the first item - which is the expression box. There are a number of ways to do this. You may always press ALT-o to open the Options menu. Then arrow down to find the Data Set 1 option and press ENTER. Focus goes to the Expression 1 edit box. Delete any characters in this box and type a single x. You can read the box with CTRL-r, but the box is also voiced if you press HOME to go to the first character. You may right arrow to move through and hear each character, or you may go to the end and left arrow backwards, also hearing each character. DEL deletes the character just voiced (which is just behind the insertion cursor). Backspace deletes the previous character (which is just before the insertion cursor). If focus is in this expression box, which should now have x in it, you may calculate the data set by pressing ENTER. You will hear a short tone when the computation is finished. Note that you may also do this computation by pressing function key F4 or by going to the Graph menu with ALT-g and pressing ENTER on the first item - Evaluate Expression 1. Note that the last two options require that the source be set to Data Set 1. You have previously set the number of points parameter at 500, and it usually takes only a fraction of a second to compute such a simple function as y=x, so you should hear the tone rather quickly after pressing any of the options that cause the function in Expression 1 to be calculated. Overview of Math Accommodations 23 4/14/2010

26 You may display the graph on screen with function key F3 or by going to the Graph menu with ALT-g and arrowing down to Display graph and pressing ENTER. Finally you may play an audio tone plot of this graph by pressing function key F5 or by going to the Graph menu with ALT-g, arrowing down to Play data set and pressing ENTER. Sighted people will see a graph on screen showing a straight line from the bottom left to upper right of the graph, which is correct for the expression y=x. The audio tone plot is a tone representing the y value when x is swept from its minimum to its maximum value as you hear the tone graph. Since y rises linearly, the tone of y rises linearly on a harmonic scale also. If you have set all parameters as we suggested, you should also hear some static (technically known as white noise ) for the first half of the tone graph. You hear this because you have set the tone graph to Play noise below y threshold and set that threshold to zero. So you hear noise when y is less than zero and do not hear that noise when y is greater than 0. Press F5 to listen again so you can hear that there is noise for half the graph but not for the last half of the graph. We note that the tone graph is often accompanied by an unintentional quiet high-pitched chirping sound on some computers and sound cards. It is usually minor and should just be ignored. Overview of Math Accommodations 24 4/14/2010

27 Publisher: Quantum Technology U.S. Resellers: Humanware, Access Ingenuity Retail Cost: Machine: $ PIAF (Pictures in a Flash) Swelltouch capsule paper, 8.5" x 11", 100/box: $130 Swelltouch capsule paper, 11" x 11.5", 100/box: $175 Swelltouch capsule paper, 11" x 17", 100/box: $230 Description The PIAF machine produces high quality tactile graphics by using heat sensitive capsule paper. The raised images are easy to produce and ideal for communicating graphics and Braille to blind people. PIAF provides quick and easy access to geography, mathematics, orientation and mobility training, all science subjects, and more. What Is Capsule Paper? The following discussion is taken from the Quantum Technology Website: The Name? Capsule paper has many names. Sometimes it is known as swell paper, puff paper, pop-up paper, or even Minolta paper. It is basically all the same material with a few variations. How s it Made? To manufacture capsule paper, a suspension of very tiny polypropylene beads is painted onto a sheet of paper. These beads are measured in microns, so don t try looking for them. How s it Work? Capsule paper works on the principal that the color black absorbs more heat. Hence, when a black line or image or dot is on a piece of capsule paper, it gets hotter than the area around it. At a certain temperature, these little beads explode, and increase their volume rather dramatically (just like making popcorn!). The result is that any black area on the paper is raised and hey presto, you have a tactile image. Always feed the capsule paper into the photocopier in the pass through or single copy mode to avoid the capsule paper becoming stuck in the photocopier. Please Note: The black ink used on capsule paper, must be carbon-based ink. Toner in photocopiers is carbon, some felt tip pens use carbon ink (try one and keep it with your PIAF). China markers (also called "grease pencils"), gel pens, and soft-lead pencils all work well. Overview of Math Accommodations 25 4/14/2010

28 MathType Publisher: Design Science, Inc Broadway Ave. Long Beach, CA USA Phone: FAX: General Information: Retail Cost: Full Price (Academic): $57.00 Upgrade Price (Academic): $37.00 Check with Design Science for site license pricing if order is greater then 5 units System Requirements: Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98 SE or Apple Macintosh OS 9 or OS X 10 to 20 MB hard disk space CD-ROM drive (can also download from Internet) Description Design Science MathType for Windows and Macintosh is a powerful interactive tool that will revolutionize the way you create print and web-based documents that contain math. MathType works with any word processor, presentation program, page layout program, HTML-authoring tool, plus other types of software, to create equations for research papers, class materials, web pages, slide presentations, journal articles and books. MathType provides several options for creating accessible math content. MathType can export mathematical expressions as images (GIF, PNG, etc.) or as MathML content. Web content can also be created from MS Word using the MathPage export function. Math equations created using the MathPage export are recognized by screen-reader technologies and read to the individual. Additionally, if using Internet Explorer, the MathPlayer plug-in provides the Web page with the capacity to speak the equation. Overview of Math Accommodations 26 4/14/2010

29 Creating Math Equations for the Web To create mathematical equations for the Web, it is first necessary to input the equations using MathType (in MS Word). Once the mathematical expressions have been entered into MS Word, there are several options for exporting the content in a Web-ready format. Exporting a Web page for Internet Explorer: 1. Choose MathType from the menu bar and choose Export to MathPage. 2. In the Title field, enter a title for the Web page. You can also select where the resulting file will be placed. 3. Select the radio button marked MathML using: and choose the MathPlayer (IE behavior) option from the drop-down list. 4. Select OK. MathType will then export the file and open the Web page within the Internet Explorer browser. NOTE You may receive an error message in IE that says Internet Explorer has restricted this file from showing active content. Click in the message and choose the option Allow Blocked Content and then select Yes. This will allow the math content to be displayed with the MathPlayer. Exporting a Web page for multi-browser functionality: 1. Choose MathType from the menu bar and choose Export to MathPage. 2. In the Title field, enter a title for the Web page. You can also select where the resulting file will be placed. 3. Uncheck the checkbox Display in default browser. 4. Select the radio button marked MathML using: and choose the XHTML + MathML option from the drop-down list. 5. Select OK. MathType will create a.xht file that contains all the page information with mathematical content. You will need to create a hyperlink to this.xht file in order to view the relevant mathematical expressions using a Web browser. NOTE It is recommended to choose the Exporting a Web page for multi-browser functionality: option in order to best serve the widest audience possible. This will allow individuals using specialized assistive computer technology to access the necessary math Overview of Math Accommodations 27 4/14/2010

30 content as well as provide options to individuals using non-ie Web browsers (e.g., FireFox, Mozilla). Considerations When creating mathematical expressions for the Web, it is important to remember the following guidelines. If you are exporting MathType content using the MathPlayer (IE behavior) option, then individuals will be able to view the content only with the Internet Explorer browser. If you are exporting MathType content using XHTML+MathML option, then individuals will be able to view the content with either Internet Explorer, Netscape 7, or Mozilla/FireFox. It will be necessary to download the appropriate MathML fonts for Netscape 7+ and Mozilla/FireFox. You can download the appropriate MathML fonts at: The Font Installer is located in the right sidebar of the page. Internet Explorer may not be able to view the Web page with the.xht extension if the file resides on the computer. If you upload the.xht file (and appropriate folder) to your Web server, then you will be able to view the Web page with your preferred browser (i.e., Internet Explorer, Mozilla/Firefox, Netscape 7+). You will need to ensure that your Web server can serve documents with the extension.xht. This can be accomplished by setting the appropriate MIME-type for your Web server. For more information, please visit: Creating Math Equations for Scientific Notebook Scientific Notebook now allows the importing of RTF documents containing mathematical expressions created using MathType. This process is useful if the final content is to be embossed as Nemeth Braille. To import math equations into Scientific Notebook, it is necessary for content to originally be created in MS Word using MathType and saved in a.rtf format. From within Scientific Notebook, it is possible to import the.rtf document and prepare the information for embossing. MathType also provides an option to copy an equation from the MathType authoring tool directly into Scientific Notebook. It is necessary to choose the translation type before moving a MathType expression into Scientific Notebook. 1. Open the MathType equation editor and compose a mathematical equation. 2. Select Preferences from the menu bar and choose Translators. 3. Choose the radio button marked Translation to other language (text). Choose the translator in the drop-down list that corresponds to the output of your choice. For Scientific Notebook, you may choose any one of the Tex translators. Overview of Math Accommodations 28 4/14/2010

31 4. Select OK. 5. Select the equation you wish to copy into Scientific Notebook and choose Copy (under Edit on the menu bar). 6. Switch to Scientific Notebook and select Edit from the menu bar. Choose Paste Special. You will need to select the Text format and the radio button marked Internal Format. 7. Select OK. You may need to clean up part of the equation in order to ensure the entire equation is recognized as math, however, your equation should now be usable from within Scientific Notebook. MathType and DotsPlus In order to print mathematical content in the Dots Plus format, it is necessary to use the Tiger font (from View Plus Technologies), and the MathType editor. Math equations can be created in MS Word from MathType. When the document is ready to be printed to the Tiger embosser (from MS Word), the user needs to select the Tiger font. This will allow for content to be properly embossed in the Dots Plus format. For more information on the Tiger embosser, visit: Resizing Equations in MathType Design Science Technical Support 2/26/2007 Good afternoon, The process for [enlarging equations] is essentially a 2-part process. You would first use MathType to create a Preference file and then apply that preference to the existing Word document. Here s what you do. Making a preference file: 1. Open MathType on its own. 2. From the Size Menu choose Define 3. The very top size category is called Full this is what all the others follow so you d only have to change this one. Set it to 24 point. Click OK. 4. From the Preferences menu choose Equation Preferences/Save to file. 5. Name and save the file in the default location. 6. Close MathType. Note, you can make as many preference files as you like. Call them, 24point, 36 point, etc. Applying the preference file 1. Open the Word document 2. From the MathType menu in Word choose Format equations 3. In the resulting dialog, click the radio button next to MathType preference file then click the browse button. Overview of Math Accommodations 29 4/14/2010

32 4. Find the preference file you want and double click to select it. 5. Click ok. This will apply the size attributes saved in the preference file to each MathType equation in the document and end with a dialog that tells you how many objects were changed. Done! Thank you, Karl Valentine-Rothenberg Technical Support Design Science, Inc. 140 Pine Avenue, 4th Floor Long Beach, California USA Tel: (562) Fax: (562) support@dessci.com Many commonly reported problems are addressed on our website. You may view our Technical Support Notices at Overview of Math Accommodations 30 4/14/2010

33 MathTalk Publisher: Metroplex Voice Computing, Inc. P. O. Box Arlington, Texas fax: Retail Cost: MathTalk bundled with Scientific Notebook: $295 MathTalk bundled with Scientific Notebook and Dragon Preferred: $495 MathTalk bundled with Scientific Notebook and Dragon Pro: $1020 System Requirements: Dragon Naturally Speaking 7.0 & 8.0 & MHZ PC; * Intel Pentium 4 for Dragon 9.0 1GB free hard disk space for Dragon 9.0 Microsoft Windows XP (SP1 or higher) Home and professional, 2000 (SP4 or higher) for Dragon 9.0 SoundBlaster or compatible soundcard 512 MB RAM minimum; * recommended 1 GIG RAM for Dragon 9.0 Microsoft Internet Explorer v.5 or higher (free download from CD-ROM drive for installation Web connection is required for activation Description MathTalk can be used with Scientific Notebook and Dragon NaturallySpeaking to allow hands-free entry of math equations on the computer. Product demos are available on their Web site: Overview of Math Accommodations 31 4/14/2010

34 LaTeX Publisher: Varies: numerous free editors Retail Cost: Numerous free editors and others at low cost System Requirements: Varies: some editors are cross-platform, at least one is Web-based. TEX is a typesetting language created by Donald E. Knuth; it has extensive capabilities to typeset math. LATEX is an extension of TEX designed by Leslie Lamport; its major features include a strong focus on document structure and the logical markup of text; automatic numbering and cross-referencing. The term LaTeX refers only to the language in which documents are written, not to the text editor itself. In order to create a document in LaTeX, a.tex file must be created using some form of text editor. While many text editors work, many people prefer to use one of several editors designed specifically for working with LaTeX. There are a number of these editors available for free. Led: Texmaker: (cross-platform) Keynote: (Apple) AMS-LaTeX: Web-based: The American Mathematical Society has a free PDF manual available online for learning LaTeX: Web-based LaTex resource: To help you get a general idea of LaTeX, I copied an example from Wikipedia. The example below shows the LaTeX input: \documentclass[12pt]{article} \title{\latex} \date{} \begin{document} \maketitle \LaTeX{} is a document preparation system for the \TeX{} typesetting program. It offers programmable desktop publishing features and extensive facilities for automating most aspects of typesetting and desktop publishing, including numbering and cross-referencing, tables and figures, page layout, bibliographies, and much more. \LaTeX{} was originally written in 1984 by Leslie Lamport and has become the dominant method for using \TeX; few Overview of Math Accommodations 33 4/14/2010

35 people write in plain \TeX{} anymore. The current version is \LaTeXe. \newline % This is a comment, it is not shown in the final output. % The following shows a little of the typesetting power of LaTeX \begin{eqnarray} E &=& mc^2 \\ m &=& \frac{m_0}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} \end{eqnarray} \end{document} This input would produce the following LaTeX output: Because LaTeX is created completely with text-based commands, the underlying source code is readable with a screenreader. Many blind mathematicians and blind higher-math students work in LaTeX directly and then use the LaTeX editor to print out well-formatted math equations for their instructors. Overview of Math Accommodations 34 4/14/2010

36 Scientific Notebook Publisher: MacKichan Software th Avenue Suite C Poulsbo, WA Phone: FAX: For customer service: info@mackichan.com Retail Cost: Full Price (Academic): $ Upgrade Price (Academic): $52.00 System Requirements: Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98, or NT 4.0 or Apple Macintosh running an emulator program such as Virtual PC 64 MB of RAM 70 to 250 MB hard disk space, depending on the type of hard drive and the installation options selected CD-ROM drive Description Scientific Notebook is a math word-processor allowing authors to integrate mathematical expressions, text content, and graphics into one document. Using the computer algebra engine MuPad 2.5, Scientific Notebook provides the flexibility to not only create mathematical expressions, but also solve equations within the document itself. Scientific Notebook also provides the capability to compute symbolically or numerically, integrate, differentiate, and solve algebraic and differential equations. With menu commands, you can create 2-D and 3-D plots in many styles and coordinate systems; import data from graphing calculators; and compute with over 150 units of physical measure. Scientific Notebook now allows exporting in RTF, MathML, and HTML as well as reading MathType mathematics by importing RTF documents. Previous features including LaTex and PDF support are also included in Scientific Notebook. Overview of Math Accommodations 35 4/14/2010

37 Scientific Notebook Shortcut Keys Note: When working in Scientific Notebook, go to View > Toolbars and turn on the Standard, Math Templates, Symbol Panels, and Tag toolbars. To enter Press Toggle math/text Ctrl+m or Ctrl+t or Insert Fraction Ctrl+f or Ctrl+/ or Ctrl+1 Radical Ctrl+r or Ctrl+2 Superscript Ctrl+h or Ctrl+ up arrow or Ctrl+3 Subscript Ctrl+l or Ctrl+down arrow or Ctrl+4 Integral Ctrl+i or Ctrl+8 Summation Ctrl+7 Brackets Ctrl+9 or Ctrl+0 or Ctrl+( or Ctrl+) Square brackets Ctrl+[ or Ctrl+] or Ctrl+6 Angle brackets Ctrl+< Braces Ctrl+{ or Ctrl+} Display Ctrl+d Product Ctrl+p Absolute value Ctrl+\ Norm Ctrl+ (Ctrl+Shift+\) Required space Ctrl+spacebar Nonbreaking space Shift+spacebar Thin space Ctrl+, Thick space Ctrl+Shift+spacebar (double open quote) Single open quote (`) twice (double close quote) Single close quote (`) twice - (intraword dash or hyphen) Hyphen (-) -- (en dash) Hyphen (-) two times --- (em dash) Hyphen (-) three times - (discretionary hyphen) Ctrl+ -- (Ctrl + hyphen two times)? followed by ` (open single quote)! followed by ` (open single quote) Overview of Math Accommodations 36 4/14/2010

38 Hint: Scientific Notebook does not normally allow you to use the space bar in equations. You can use keyboard shortcuts to enter spaces: CTRL + spacebar = required space SHIFT + spacebar = nonbreaking space CTRL + SHIFT + spacebar = thick space MathType to Scientific Notebook - Open MS Word and create equations with MathType - Set the MathType Translator to the following: Tex LaTex 2.09 or Later (located under Preferences > Translators) - Double-click on the equation to open in the MathType window and then select the entire equation - Copy the equation (Ctrl+C) - Open Scientific Notebook and choose Edit > Paste Special - Choose Text > Internal Format That should paste the equation into Sci. Notebook correctly. You *might* need to ensure that the equation is rendered in red (as this marks it as Math content), but it should come across correctly. Exporting Graphs to Word We need to adjust the settings so that the graph does not have a frame, axes are not labeled, and tick marks are not numbered. We will add numbers and labels in the Braille font in Word. (Note: If you do not have the Braille font, you can download it for free from Duxbury: Once you have created your graph, right click on it and choose Properties. Set the Axes so that tick labeling is disabled (check the disable tick labeling option). Overview of Math Accommodations 37 4/14/2010

39 Set the layout to plot only so that there is no bounding frame around the graph. Under Item Plotted, set line thickness to medium. Overview of Math Accommodations 38 4/14/2010

40 Select and copy the graphic and copy it. Open Microsoft Word and paste the graphic by going to Edit > Paste Special > Picture. With the graphic in Word, enter the Braille labels in text boxes (26 point Braille font, no line around the boxes). y x Overview of Math Accommodations 39 4/14/2010

41 List of AT Products with Math Support Courtesy of Design Science Which Assistive Technology Products Have Math Support? There are a growing number of assistive technology (AT) products that have math support, ranging from synthetic speech output of math equations to braille support. Design Science is constantly working with AT vendors to assist them in developing accessible math supports for their customers. We provide the following list to help keep you informed on the current status of math support in AT products. Reader Tools Tactile and Braille Translation Software DAISY Playback Software DAISY Production and Conversion Tools Authoring Software that supports DAISY or XHTML+MathML Export Terminology Key Instructions to Vendors Note: The features listed are for the most current version of the software. Older versions may or may not have these features. Reader Tools The following table lists a number of the most popular synthetic speech reading tools, including screen reader applications and literacy support tools. PRODUCT VENDOR Accessibility Partner Basic Math Speech Advanced Math Speech Synchronized Math Highlighting Refreshable Math Braille Support Browsealoud Texthelp Yes Yes No Yes N/A ClaroRead for Claro PC No Yes No No No HAL Dolphin No Yes No N/A No JAWS Freedom Scientific No Yes No N/A No Kurzweil 1000 Kurzweil Yes Coming soon No N/A No Overview of Math Accommodations 40 4/14/2010

42 Kurzweil 3000 MAGic with speech NVDA Read&Write Gold Kurzweil Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A Freedom Scientific NVDAproject No Yes No No N/A N/A No No No No Texthelp Yes Yes No Yes N/A Supernova Dolphin No Yes No No No System Access Serotek Yes Yes No N/A No Window-Eyes GW Micro No Yes No N/A No WYNN ZoomText Reader Freedom Scientific Ai Squared Tactile and Braille Translation Software No Yes No No N/A Yes Yes No No N/A The following table lists some of the most commonly used translation software for the creation of hard copy tactile materials. PRODUCT Braille2000 Braille Maker Duxbury Braille Translator Tiger Software Suite VENDOR Computer Application Specialties Cragside AccessABILITY Accessibility Partner DotsPlus Math Math Braille Equation Editor Support MathType Support No No Yes No No No No Yes Coming soon Coming soon MathML Support Coming soon Duxbury Yes No Yes Yes Yes No ViewPlus Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No WinBraille Index Braille No No Yes Yes No No DAISY Playback Software The following table lists some of the most popular DAISY Digital Talking Book software players. PRODUCT AMIS Book Wizard Reader VENDOR DAISY for All Project American Printing House Accessibility Partner Basic Math Speech Advanced Math Speech Synchronized Math Highlighting No Refreshable Math Braille Support N/A No No No No N/A No No No No EasyReader Dolphin No Yes No No No eclipsereader IRTI No No No No No gh PLAYER gh Yes Yes Yes Yes No Victor Reader Soft HumanWare Yes No No No No Overview of Math Accommodations 41 4/14/2010

43 DAISY Production and Conversion Tools The following table lists a number of commonly used production and conversion tools for creating DAISY Digital Talking Books, and in some cases for converting to other formats. PRODUCT Book Wizard Producer VENDOR American Printing House Accessibility Partner MathML Support CAST NIMAS Conversion Tool CAST N/A Yes DAISY Pipeline DAISY Consortium Yes N/A No Yes (requires MathDaisy) Dolphin Publisher Dolphin No No DTBMaker Wyoming Medical Center EasyConverter Dolphin No No EasyProducer Dolphin No No eclipsewriter Professional IRTI No No TechAdapt Accessible Media Center N/A TechAdapt No Yes Authoring Software that supports DAISY or XHTML+MathML Export The following table lists document authoring software that can be used to create DAISY or XHTML files with accessible math. No PRODUCT MS Office Word OpenOffice Writer VENDOR Microsoft OpenOffice.or g Accessibility Partner No N/A Supports DAISY Export w/math In Beta (requires Save as DAISY XML add-in) Yes (requires Text To DAISY DTB" extension) Supports XHTML+MathML Export Yes (requires MathType) Yes (requires "Writer2html" extension) Overview of Math Accommodations 42 4/14/2010